Ana Stock's Book Review

Love Story

by Erich Segal

An oldie but goodie; this book focuses on a modern theme very pungently: should two young individuals give in on their dreams (i.e. living in Paris) to live a life of love and happiness, and is young love true love? Often teenage relationships are seen by adults as immature and insignificant, after all how does a teen know what true love feels like? Oliver and Jenny had no idea that one night sparked by a snide comment and a quickly pungent response would ever turn into a life in love and marriage. Oliver was born into a comfortable home, to say the least; his family had money and he was a hockey jock at Harvard. Jenny was his exact opposite: music major, and librarian at the Radcliffe library where Oliver went to do research. He preferred the Radcliffe library because it was so much easier to find what he was looking for, but he didn’t go into the library that night to find Jenny, it just so happened that the little snot was working when he asked for help. He almost feels obligated to ask her out but ends up thoroughly enjoying his encounter. After some time and many hockey games that ended in the hospital, he decided that it was time to ask his nerd to marry him. His family disproves, but he does not let that get in the way of their love. She gives up her dream to live in Paris for the sake of their relationship but it was totally worth it because neither could focus on anything but each other. They, like any newly weds, they had little to no money, if only she would have followed her dream right? Wrong, she would have found herself incapable of living the life of a Parisian musician after an awful discovery. Their marriage was strong even when the hand of God seemed to be crushing down on them and tragedy struck. It was in sorrow that they found strength in love. In the end a love is lost and one is rekindled. Nonetheless, both loves were of great importance and illustrated the human capacity for love.